Kitty LaRoux's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Kitty LaRoux counted her coins twice, and twice they came up short. She stood on the porch of her provisions outpost, red hat pushed back, staring at the debt she owed Black Tom. One good year would clear it. Then she would never bow to that black cat again. That was the plan. But the plan needed money she did not have, and Black Tom's man was already climbing her steps. Buccaneer Bob touched his red scarf and grinned. "He wants what you owe. Today." Bob had eaten at her table more than once. He did not look happy carrying this message. "Tell him I need a week," Kitty said. "I told him you'd say that." So Kitty went to see Black Tom herself. She found him at the shore, near his boat, checking the compass at his belt. He did not look up when her boots hit the sand. "You're short," he said. "I have half. I'll have the rest by the next tide market." "That's not what you owe." Kitty's tail lashed once. Ten years she had run cargo. Ten years that red hat had outlasted every cat who doubted her. She would not let this one own her too. "Take the half," she said. "And take my next spice shipment against the rest." Black Tom finally looked at her. His yellow eyes held no warmth, though he had once shared her bed. "Your shipment's gone. Stolen. Whole island knows." The words landed hard. Her ship, her spices, her logbook, all taken from the dock. He knew she had nothing coming. "I'll get more stock," she said. "With what?" Kitty had no answer he would accept. So she found the one cat who bought secrets instead of spice. She crossed to the finest house on the island and asked for Madame Mimi LeMeow. Mimi received her in low lamplight. She wore red, and she smiled like a rival who smelled blood. "Kitty LaRoux. In my parlour. You must be desperate, chérie." "I need coin. Enough to pay Black Tom." Mimi poured two glasses and pushed one across. "I don't lend. I buy." She let the silence stretch. "Drunk captains talk here. Some talk about a stolen ship. About who untied it." Kitty's ears went flat. "You know who took mine." "I know a name." Mimi tapped the glass. "For that name, you sign your outpost to me. Half of it." Kitty looked at the coins in her purse, still short. She looked at the door where Bob waited for an answer. Half her business, or Black Tom's collar for another year. She set her purse on the table and pushed every coin toward Mimi. "The half I have. Not my outpost. Pay Black Tom with it. We're square, he and I, for now." Mimi swept the coins in and laughed. "Done. The name keeps." Kitty walked out with an empty purse and a clean slate. Black Tom no longer held her. But now Mimi held the name of the cat who did.